Aeroplane.



L. W.ERWAY.

} AEROPLA'NE. PPLICATI Patented July 23, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

' L. w. ERWAY.

AEROPLANE. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 6. I917.

m w July 23, 1918-.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

LUUIS 'W. EEWAY, 01? HASTINGfi MICHIGAN.

AEROPLANE.

malaise.

Specification of Letters Patent;

[Patented can ea, rare.

hpplication filed October 6, 1917. Serial No. 1:95AM.

T0 allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Louis W. ERwAr, a citizen of the United States, residin at Hastings, in the county of Barry and btate of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Aeroplane, of which the following is a specification This invention relates to aeroplanes or machines of the heavier than air type, one of the objects of the invention being to provide a machine utilizing an extensive sustaining plane provided at its sides with propelling screws which operate both to move the machine forwardly and to displace air from above the sustaining plane and direct it under said plane, therebyto create a partial vacuum above the plane and facilitate the ascent of the machine and at the same time drive the plane upwardly.

A still further object is to provide propelling screws which not only operate to remove air from above the sustaining plane and direct air under said plane but also to displace air downwardly, thus to elevate the machine.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and [claimed it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment. of the invention can be made within the scope of what is laimed, without departing from the spirit 0 the invention, 0

In the. accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings-:-

Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine embodying the present improvements.

Fig. 2 is. a view partly in side elevation and partly-in section.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation.

, Referring to the figures b characters of reference 1 designates the 'uselage of the airship, the same having'any suitable running gear 2 and mounted above the fuselage and connectedfthereto by struts 3- is a sustaining lane 4.

Exten i-ng laterally from each side are bearing arms 5 and journaled in the outer end portions of these arms are the fuselage at longitudinal shafts 6 which are parallel.

Fixedly secured to each of these shafts is a propelling screw having broad blades as indicated at 7, each screw in the present instance being provided with four of these spiral blades although it is to be understood that the number of blades may be increased or diminished as preferred. Likewise, while only one propelling screw has been shown at each side of the machine it is to be understood that this number may be multiplied :Fhe screws extend slightly above the sustaining plane l although the greater portions thereof are located below the frame;

Any suitable means may be provided for simultaneously rotating the screws in opposite directions, respectively, said screws belng adapted to revolve as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3.

The means for driving the screws includes a sprocket S secured to-the shaft 6 and driven, by chains 9 from sprockets 10 secured to a vshaft 11 journaled under the sustaining the machine forwardly, thus presenting the bottom surface of the sustaining plane to the atmosphere but will also displace air downwardly, the outwardly moving portions of the blade pulling air from above the sustaining' plane 4, thus to create a partial vacuum while the inwardly movin portions of the blade will shift air inwar ly and upwardly under the sustaining plane 4 thereby to assist in the elevation of the machine.

Ifdesired shields 15 may be arranged under the inner portions of the screws to prevent positively any withdrawal of air by the screws from under the plane.

What is claimed is I An airship including a sustaining plane, a pro ellin screw extending under and upward y an outwardly beyond each side of the sustainingplane, and means for simul- In testimony that I claim the foregoing as taneously rotating the screws at opposite my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature 10 sides of the sustaining plane in opposite diin the presence of two witnesses. rectlons respectlvely, said screws havmg a 5 plurality of broad blades constituting means LOUIS ERWAY' for displacin air laterally from above the Witnesses: sustainin p ane, inwardly under the sus- A. M. ANDERSON,

taining p ane and downwardly. A. E. MULHOLLAND. 

